Bangladesh is waiting for the response from Myanmar on the proposed arrangement of repatriation of Rohingyas, the foreign minister has told diplomats in Dhaka.
Published : 09 Oct 2017, 07:05 PM
Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on Monday said Myanmar Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe during his visit has expressed his government’s willingness to take back the “displaced residents” of Myanmar and proposed to follow the principles and criteria agreed upon in the 1992 joint statement”.
Bangladesh has welcomed the visit of Union Minister and his willingness to work together for return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
“Around half of the Muslim villages in the northern Rakhine State have been burned down and the burning is still going on.”
“So, the identification of Rohingyas based on their residence in Rakhine would not be realistic,” he said.
Bangladesh therefore proposed and handed over a new arrangement to the visiting Minister outlining the principles and criteria for repatriation, Ali said.
“Response from Myanmar on the proposed arrangement of return is awaited.”
Ali briefed the diplomats on the current Rohingya situation and mentioned that the atrocities in Rakhine have not been stopped and Rohingyas are continuing to cross the border.
According to UN bodies, 520,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border into Bangladesh since August 25; nearly 40,000 of them arrived in the last 10 days.
He referred to the recent visit of Kyaw Tint Swe to Dhaka on Oct 2 at his invitation.
He also shared that Myanmar has invited him and the home minister to visit Myanmar and the invitations have been accepted.
Ali thanked the international community for their support and urged them to continue their engagement until a peaceful means is found to resolve this humanitarian crisis.
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